Chapter 11: Change, Choice, and Principles
Ganondorf rode atop his great steed Storm, and looked over the green fields of Hyrule. A gentle breeze swept across his face and brushed through his hair. By the Goddesses it felt wonderful. He closed his eyes and breathed deep the crisp cool air. This would be how he spends his days. Once all his work was done, once he'd built his perfect world. He wouldn't sit secluded in some tower, hiding behind great stone walls. He'd ride across his domain, so he could see and experience all the ways he changed the lands.
And when he grew too old to sit the throne, he'd saddle Storm for one final ride and never return. What tales they'd tell of him! What songs they'd sing. Ganondorf the Warrior-King, the savior of the Gerudo, the Conqueror of Hyrule. Some would still spit at his memory for what he had to do, no doubt. But most right-thinking people would understand his sacrifice. They'd love him. And even those who despised him would still have to agree that he shaped the age to his will like no voe had done before.
Yes, that would be the way of it. That's how he should be remembered.
"Gan," Nabooru's voice had a sting to it. "I can tell you're not listening."
"Sorry?" Ganondorf opened his eyes and returned to the present. "I'm listening. Promise."
Nabooru shook her head as she rode beside him. One bound hand cradled at her lap, the bandages that covered her feet and legs peaking out from between her riding pants and boots.
He needed to keep his head in the present, he needed to focus. Dreams are fine things and could motivate one to greatness. But only if they did not let those dreams cloud them to the events before them. He could not drift off, he could not lose control. He glanced to Nabooru's bandaged hand. Never again. Focus.
"I'm not saying you shouldn't have done it," Nabooru continued. "All I'm saying is you should have told me. I could have helped with the planning. How did you get the moblins inside in the first place? How can I offer any help if you don't tell me what you're planning?"
Gan looked over his shoulder, the rest of his personal guard listened, though Desquesza and Caeiti at least hid their eavesdropping. He turned back to Nabooru, the answer to one of her questions would cause nothing but her anger. The other as well, but that one could be managed. "I wanted you surprised," he shrugged. "I wanted everyone observing you to know without reservation that you had no idea what was happening. I needed everyone to see our sisters fighting for their lives beside the Hylians. Besides, I didn't want you accidentally revealing anything to your new friends."
Nabooru frowned, her eyes growing hard. Good, let her focus on that. "You're talking about Jora."
"Among others," Ganondorf said. "I believe I saw you talking to that Sheikah."
"Sands take you!" She hissed.
One glance and he knew he'd won, and her other questions forgotten. Now he just needed to deal with the aftermath. And with Nabooru it was always best to simply let her get her anger out.
"You think I'd reveal something about what we're doing? You think I'd befriend a Sheikah? Jora made me sit with her, and I'll have you know, I told her I'd kill her."
"Because she made you angry, correct?"
"Obviously, what does that have to do with anything?"
"Nabooru, I owe you my life. Three times over at least."
"We counting that… thing back at the forest?"
"I don't see why not."
"Then I'm at five."
"Fine, five. And there is no one under the Sun I would rather have at my side, no one I trust more to watch my back. But, and I am saying this with all the love in my heart, I have seen sand-seals lie more convincingly than you."
"Get off it."
"Why do you think I have never brought you in to speak with the king regent? You can argue better than me when you set your mind on something, and that is possibly the most useful skill when dealing with the king and the worms he calls his advisors."
"I figured you just didn't want me to get bored."
"It was because I don't want them knowing you. I don't want them to see all your little tells, the way you avert your eyes when you're uncomfortable. The way you touch your braid. I don't want them to see how bad a liar you are."
"I am not that bad a liar!" Nabooru near shouted. The slightest sniggering came from those trailing behind them.
Might as well get them involved then. Ganondorf turned around in his saddle. "Sisters?"
His warriors burst out in laughter. "Nabs," Jocquine piped up. "I still remember when you actually jumped for joy when we won at Terry Town."
"What?" Nabs said. "It was hard fought, I'm allowed to let out a little energy."
"With respect," Bethmasse's deep voice followed her. "Whenever we play cards, if you have a good hand you never take your eyes off them. It's like you're worried they'll change on you."
Nabs didn't have a response to that, or to the vai's laughter. And though he tried to contain himself, Ganondorf could not help but grin as Nabooru glowered at them all.
"Well, Nabs," Mulli said, the only one to look even a little apologetic. "But that's not a bad thing. It shows you're honorable." Then even sweet little Mulli cracked a shy smile. "I don't think you have any tells at all." She nodded toward Nabooru's hand, that had found its way to stroking at her braid.
Nabooru glared at the smallest of Gan's guard as she let go, and flipped her hair over her shoulder. Likely in the hope that she wouldn't take hold of it again.
"Sisters! Sisters!" Desquesza raised her hands to quiet them down. "We can all see Nabs is uncomfortable, we should stop."
"Thank you," Nabooru said through gritted teeth.
"Sorry, Nabs," Mulli said.
Then Desquesza gave Ganondorf a devilish grin before she met Nabooru's eyes. "But I have a question, dear sister. After the moblins were defeated, I went looking for you and I couldn't find you. Or Sir Jora for that matter, where did you go?"
"That's! – I!" Nabooru tried to speak, but before she could form any coherent sentence a blush went up her neck to her face as red as her hair. That sent the warriors into another fit of squeaking laughter. "Sands take all of you!"
"And to prove my point," Ganondorf said once their giggles quieted down. "I can tell right now you're furious."
"Oh? Am I?" She shouted before rounded on Ganondorf. "You could have gotten us killed with your little trick."
"I would never let anything happen to you. I made certain that all of my sisters were seated well away from the doors. And, in truth, I thought you were so wounded you wouldn't take part in the fighting."
"Look at that something not going according to your plans. How wonderful for us all to be here to see it."
"It worked. I would not have let any of them harm you. Besides, after that bit of theater the king trust us more than ever. I didn't even have to suggest bringing my armies to aid in defeating the monsters, he brought it up himself. Always nice when the puppets speak what you want without even having to put your words in their mouth first. And when it is time for us to strike, I'll be seated on his throne before that fat oaf can even marshal his forces against us."
They rode for some miles in quiet, except for the occasional mumbled threats Nabooru made under her breath. They stopped when they reached a crossroads.
"And here I leave you," Gan said. "Nabs, you have your orders?"
"Call the tribes," she said, her voice still in a grumble. "Tell them to prepare for war and ride toward the pass. While you go collect your stones."
"Good," Ganondorf held out his hand.
Nabooru shook her head but took his arm regardless. "So, which of them are you after now? The Tree has to be dead."
"He's dead, but something killed the insect before it could deliver the stone to me."
"You're not going back there are you?"
"No, whoever holds it now is bringing the stone out of the woods. Probably to find some new place to hide it. But the monster marked it. I can sense where it's going."
"Do you know who holds it?"
Gan scowled. "No, the Tree had one last trick. He managed to obscure an entire forest, I should have guessed that he'd do the same with the Sacred Stone. I can't look upon the bearer, but I'll follow him. And besides, it can only be one of the Forest Children. It can't be too hard to find a child with a fairy flying about them."
"If the legends are to be believed."
"They have so far. When will you start to trust in them?"
"When you get that throne you're always on about."
"Heh, fair enough."
"So, the other two, then? It'll be hard to deal with their guardians if they know you killed the Tree."
Ganondorf released his sister-in-arms, and looked to the mountains off in the distance. "One won't be as hard as you'd think. The Gorons killed their guardian some years ago."
"Why?"
Ganondorf shrugged. "Don't know the details. But dragons are temperamental, and Gorons solve all their problems with their fists. Seems inevitable."
"And the last?"
"More difficult. In truth, I haven't quite figured out how to handle that one yet."
"Should I be worried about that?"
"No, by all accounts the Lord Jabu-Jabu is the most peaceful of them all. I just need to go look over the situation firsthand. I'll think of something."
"That one I've heard before." Nabooru's glare softened a little. "Just promise me you won't contact your mothers. Not again. Not when I'm not there."
I can't very well ask their aid a third time. "I won't."
"They'd cut your throat themselves if it meant one of their schemes succeeds. You can't trust them."
"Nabs, I said I won't call upon them, and I won't."
"Good," she nodded, paused a moment, then leaned out and wrapped her arms around him. Something hard for her to do even when they weren't riding horses. "Stay safe."
"You as well."
Nabooru released him then punched him in the shoulder. Not hard, barely even a tap. But Ganondorf grabbed the spot in mock surprise. "I'm still mad at you."
And without another word, she led his honor guard to the west and their home. A part of him wished to return with them. Take time to see his people, remind himself of all their problems. The daily horrors of life in the desert he needed to fix. Plot out the path of the aqueduct he finally got the king to agree to build and organize groups of workers to get started.
But that would only delay him. Once he attained true power and the world was at his feet, he could return. But to get home, he needed to go ever father away.
From his perch along the jagged ridge of Mount Lanayru, Ganondorf watched the waters. All his weapons, armor, and jewelry he left with Storm. Now he wrapped himself in loose clothes that let him move unhindered, but tight enough not to scratch together. All colored in browns and grays to match the stones on which he lay.
Another of the gifts of his mothers. When he was still a child, they brought him a Sheikah captured and held under some terrible enchantment. He had not realized what they had done to her at the time, all he knew was he had a new tutor. One that woke him in the middle of the night to scrounge about in the dark and whipped him if they discovered him. But once her teachings were done, she slumped into a corner and drooled on herself, just as his other tutors had done. Until they had taught their subject in full and disappeared.
He had never taken to lurking about as naturally as he had with swordsmanship. A true Sheikah Needle could disappear while standing right before your eyes and appear again out of thin air a hundred feet away. But he knew enough to surprise the knights and soldiers of a Hylian army. No one expects a man of his size to appear behind them with a knife at their throat. That talent, more than anything, earned him the name King of Thieves during the war.
And like all his mother's gifts, it served him well now. Below him, just out of sight, the opening of a tunnel that led to the outskirts of the Crystal City. Zora filed out of it and onto the beach. The fishfolk wrapped themselves in their fins, creating a rippling flow to their movements. Each of them carrying baskets of fish to offer their guardian. Ganondorf watched them the last two days, but Lord Jabu-Jabu did not appear.
The Guardian of the Seas wasn't the only thing missing. He had sent the Octorok to attack the Zora, cause some destruction. Ganondorf would offer to remove the Octorok threat in exchange for the Sapphire. But as far as he could tell, the Zora Domain knew only peace. None of the fishfolk looked as though they had ever known a day of hardship.
Ganondorf sighed and stretched out on the rocks. The sun slipped closer to the line of mountaintops. He'd wait another hour before returning to Storm and his camp. How many more days could he wait? Two? Perhaps three? He still needed to return to Castle Town in time to meet with Nabooru. All while traveling off the main roads so not even the Sheikah could keep eyes on him.
He wondered how Nabooru faired. Already well in the desert, no doubt. Meeting with old friends and speaking before the Matrons. Bethmasse calling upon her family, showing what she added to their spear. Desquesza lounging as she would when there was no work to be done. He missed them all. Strange, how often Nabooru would chide him for ignoring his sisters. How he spent too much time wandering off alone to think. And now, when had days with nothing to do except think, his thoughts went back to them.
But they needed to return to the desert, and he needed to speak with Lord Jabu-Jabu. Sticking together, fighting the war as he had his entire life lead to nothing. No matter how many victories he won, he could not crack the walls of Hyrule. Every soldier he lost, his enemies could lose ten and they would not have cracked their reserves.
This way was better: deceit and power. There may be no glory in it. But if this is what he had to do for his people he would. Without hesitation. Even if it meant he wandered around all Greater Hyrule alone.
He yawned, the setting sun turned the sky red. The guardian would not appear today. Perhaps he needed a new plan on how to get the creature's attention? He got to his feet, though he stayed as low to the ground as he could, ready to slink back to Storm and the tent he'd disguised to look as part of the mountainside.
A murmur grew amongst the crowd of Zora beneath him. Gan turned back to the waters. A series of ripples washed across the shore. Small at first, but they spread far, and grew. Another ripple, then another. Each thicker than the last, until the ripples turned to waves.
Ganondorf laid down, his head as close to the edge of the outcropping as he dared. Was this him? The Zora cheered and formed an ordered line from the shore. Waves splashed against their feet, and spread out as far as Gan could see, perhaps even to the other side of the sea. How big was the Lord Jabu-Jabu? The scrolls and legends mentioned each of the guardians grew massive in size, but to disturb the waters so dramatically? It must dwarf even the great tree.
A purple tentacle rose from the water. The Zora stepped away in shock. It reached onto the shore, thrashing about, splashing water and clods of sand into the air. More sprung from the waves, followed by a multicolored bladderlike head of a Bari.
"By the Goddesses," Gan muttered. He knew the Octorok bred the jellyfish as beasts of war, but he never knew they could grow so large.
Those on the shore screamed. Several took up spears and rushed at the monster. But the Bari whipped its tentacles at them, one struck a Zora in the chest and sent him flying. But another only glanced across a fleeing vai's shoulder, and it sent her to the ground convulsing as the Bari's natural electricity surged into her.
Perhaps the Octorok did have their uses. The more danger they posed to the protected people of Greater Hyrule the more the king regent would need to rely upon him. Pity the destruction it caused.
Among the Zora the warriors formed some semblance of a battle line. Spears set toward the creature. A tight formation? Against a creature that could squash many of them with a single sling of its arms? No, that didn't make sense. A loose order was what they needed. Room to move, avoid the big slow attacks as best they could. Unless they acted in the defense of something, protecting someone. Creating a barrier of themselves.
But what they protected he could not see. Not unless he peered so far over the edge that his head might be visible to those below. Though with the screams and clanging of weapons, now would be the time to look. Little chance anyone glanced upward when death loomed before them. He hooked his feet along the stones to secure himself and leaned over the lip of the ridge.
A small Zora child stood behind the line of warriors. Perhaps nine or ten years of age? She didn't look afraid as her warriors lined up to face the monster on her behalf. She huffed and folded her arms, as if the mortal peril did little more than ruin a perfectly planned day. Royalty, Ganondorf decided as he pulled himself back. Useless royalty at that. Little to learn from her, not when he could get a good look at Zora's warriors' capabilities. He had only fought against the Zora once in all his years of war. The fishfolk had a knack for slipping away from a fight, leaving it to their Hylian and Goron allies. One should never forgo a chance to learn about an enemy.
The spears did little more than annoy the creature. The Bari lifted itself onto the shore, sending what few civilians remained scrambling from the beach. The monster raised its tentacles to smash the line of defenders in one massive strike. Some few managed to dive away from the blow, but many did not have the room, too packed together to escape. Poor fools.
Before the attack landed, the whispy tendrils that hung about its bulbous head fell back, as if a deep wind blew them. Then the tentacle posed in the air followed it. Only then did Ganondorf notice the whirlpool growing behind the Bari. Water swirled as something pulled on it, then the air whistled around the Bari's tentacles and forced it away from the little Zora vai and her wall of spearmen.
From the whirlpool came a massive jaw. Large and wide enough to swallow the Bari whole.
Ganondorf's jaw dropped open. If the Bari was enormous, he did not have the words to describe how large this creature was. His mind could barely make sense of it. Its snakelike head ruptured from the water. Within its maw sand and sea enough to look a pool all on its own, though this one filled with thrashing Bari and Octorok all caught in its throat. Still moving with life, though caught in its throat. Trapped beneath the creature's sharklike teeth.
The Zora cheered as the first of the Bari's tendrils entered their deity's throat. Electricity shimmered in the air around the monster, and when it touched the guardian's jaws the whale groaned deep and loud. Enough to shake the rocks Ganondorf laid upon. He clutched at them, holding himself steady as the Bari sank deeper and deeper down Jabu-Jabu's gullet.
The air sizzled as the monstrous Bari put everything it had into the deity. But Lord Jabu-Jabu did little more than shake its head, but even that movement sent a crash of waves against the beach. Sending the remaining spearmen floundering in the waters. And this was only its head. How much more of the great whale still lay hidden beneath the water?
"And I'm going to go deal with this thing," he muttered to himself. "By the Goddesses, maybe I am going insane."
IT IS JUST A FISH BEFORE YOUR MIGHT
Ganondorf ducked back down beneath the rocks. Visions of him straddling the deity and plunging his sword through its skull filled his mind. He was laughing and hurling witchfire as Jabu-Jabu died. Burrowing his way inside, tearing through its entrails until he came upon the Sapphire hiding within its stomach. And when he blasted his way back out, his mothers sang his praises.
"No," he shut his eyes and took a deep calming breath, his heart pounded in his chest as if he had just gone through a battle. That dark part of him grew louder and louder. So long he pushed it down, ignored it as best he could. That was not the plan, it'd be suicide to confront the creature. Patience and cunning. That was his only path forward.
By the time he calmed himself and looked back out on the river, Jabu-Jabu's mouth slammed shut and the Bari was nowhere to be seen. The Zora shouted and prayed as their guardian swam toward them.
"Get ready!" the little Zora shouted to her guard. She walked to the edge of the pool and held her hands wide. "Great Lord Jabu-Jabu, I have provided a feast for you."
Behind her, the soldiers brought out crates of food. Jabu-Jabu opened his mouth wide, and they threw hundreds of still wiggling fish into the whirlpool within him.
"Now," the vai said as she stepped right up to Jabu-Jabu. "My wish. I wish to marry someone, but my father doesn't take me seriously. He says I'm too young and my feelings will change with the tides. I am going to prove him wrong. I am going to offer my beloved the greatest promise stone so everyone knows how serious I am. You hold such a stone, I want it. Give it to me."
What kind of spoiled child is this? If any of the Gerudo children came up to him making such demands, he'd give them a hard days work out in the desert for their insolence. Evidently, Lord Jabu-Jabu agreed. The great beast closed its jaws, its wideset eyes found the child. But it did not otherwise move. Nor did it give up the Sapphire of the Seas.
After a long time, another Zora stepped forward. This one only held one fish in his hands. He placed it before the mighty guardian and knelt. "Please, great Lord Jabu-Jabu, my son is sick. I beg you, please grant me some of your healing waters for his sake."
The guardian ducked his head beneath the shore, sending small lapping waves over the fins of the Zora's feet. When it popped back up, he raised his massive head over the kneeling Zora and opened his mouth. A thin stream of water dribbled out of his lips. As it fell from the air, the water shimmered with bright blue light. Gleaming with the magic of the Sapphire.
The Zora gave a shout of praise and took a small bottle to catch some of the water.
"What!" the little Zora royal screamed. "You can't ignore me! My offering was bigger than his. My offering is bigger than all the others. This isn't fair!"
"Princess," one of the guards stepped forward and knelt to her. "Perhaps Lord Jabu-Jabu, in his wisdom thinks that the Sapphire is too important to be used for an engagement."
"I don't want to hear it," the vai pouted. "My father will hear about this!" She stormed away from Jabu-Jabu, and her guard followed.
Except for one, who pulled out one large fish from a pouch and laid it down in offering. "Please, Lord Jabu-Jabu, teach the princess some humility. For all our sakes." Then he bowed and rushed after his charge.
Once the princess and her entourage left, other Zora gave their small offerings and made their wishes. Some gave one fish, others two or three. But Jabu-Jabu met with all of them, some he helped others he turned aside. Always silent, almost emotionless. But as Ganondorf watched he saw the tiny flickers on the beast's eyes and lips. Spasms of something… pain perhaps?
Ganondorf backed away from his ledge and headed down the mountainside. He returned well past midnight with a basket full of fish. Catching them ended up being a more troubling diversion than he anticipated. Half of the fish he needed to blast with witch-fire, he'd never gone fishing before and now he knew he would never waste his time on it again.
He could not see the Sea God, but hopefully it would still answer when called. He swung his leg over the ledge and climbed down onto the shore. His boots touched down on the sand, but it didn't feel right. It took him a moment of stepping around it before he figured out what was wrong. It was not the sands of his desert, dry and dangerous. The wet sand didn't wisp around his legs, nor did he need to cover his mouth to avoid inhaling it. It sloshed around his boots. When he stepped a thick indent of his feet remained.
Smiling like a fool, he took a few harder stomps and chuckled at how perfect the imprint left behind was. No. Focus, there is no time to act like a child. He went to the edge of the shore and overturned his basket, pouring the fish into the water. "Lord Jabu-Jabu," he said. "I humbly ask for an audience with you."
The still water rippled, then welled up. Ganondorf could not help but take a few steps back from the edge as waves splashed water up to his knees. Massive jaws opened, creating a vacuum of water sucking in everything that he had offered, and whipped his clothes and hair about him. The jaws clenched shut, as the head of the sea lord rose above water. It's stalked eyes swiveled until they both landed on Ganondorf.
Ganondorf bowed, "Lord Jabu-Jabu, I am King Ganondorf Dragmire of the Gerudo. I come on a mission of peace and seek your aid."
One of the creature's eyes twitched before it went back to Ganondorf, another sign of pain. But what was causing it? The spasm happened again, this time on one whole side of the great deity's face. As it had when the Bari struck it with its electricity. Was the thing still alive somewhere deep within?
"I understand the Octorok have invaded your waters, earlier I saw you best one of their minions. I offer my aid in turning back your enemies. Sending them away and never returning to harm you or your Zora ever again. I will even offer my services to slay that which lies within you and is causing you such pain. All I ask in return is the Sapphire of Waters that you protect."
A deep low growl came from deep in the beast's throat. Jabu-Jabu's lips pulled back revealing some of its massive teeth.
"I need it to save my own home!" He held up his hands, trying to show the creature he had no ill intent. "I am not an arrogant child demanding the stone for my own gratification. My home is a barren desert. With the Stone I may be able to bring life to the lands."
The great sea beast did not move, nor did the Sapphire appear. It simply stared at him.
"When my work is done, I will return it to you. I swear. Please, Lord Jabu-Jabu grant me the power to save my kingdom."
The whale's jaws opened, revealing the vast red tunnel of its throat. From within him came a dim blue light and a cool rush. A sense of wisdom and wonder, the feeling of the tides and the smell of salty sea air. The light grew brighter as knowledge of ages and the power of the Goddesses overwhelmed him. The light condensed into a blue stone, no, three of them, each held together with gold, all together as large as a man's head.
"Yes! That's it! Thank you!" He reached toward the light.
The whale's jaws snapped shut, nearly catching Ganondorf between its massive teeth. Gan stumbled back, splashing through the thin layer of water that covered the sands.
"Why?"
The guardian of the Sapphire sunk beneath the waters. The path to the stone closed to him.
"Is that it?" Ganondorf stood up and rushed to the edge of the water, looking down into the black depths. "Is that your answer?"
The deity did not return. It knew what Ganondorf wanted, it showed him the stone. Was it trying to teach me a lesson? Or taunt me? The black thoughts returned to him. It dared taunt him? His blade could hack through the creature with as much ease as he tore through knights. He could call the beast back, and make it pay for its arrogance. He slew the Great Tree he could defeat a fish.
He shook the thought away. "If that's your answer. I'll find another way." He called over the still waters. "I will save my people!"
If he faced the beast himself, it would capture him as it had the Bari and Octorok. He would need someone else to go in his stead. Someone easy to manipulate and Jabu-Jabu would trust. More than that, the guardian would protect.
A plan took shape, though it left him frowning. Could he truly manipulate a young vai's emotions so easily? Could he use the foulest spells he knew upon an innocent? Even one as arrogant as the Zora princess?
It would work, though. He wouldn't even need to call upon his mothers, as he promised Nabs. A few simple spells, that was all it would take. He would need to be in contact with this princess, but, that was trivial. His mothers taught him to project himself great distances. Even if he did not know where the Zora now roamed, she would return to her palace. And once there he could follow, unseen, until he discovered where she was most alone, for him to make his presence known. It would take no more than a day or two.
But once he found her, could he cast his mother's spell? Could he destroy a child's will as readily they destroyed so many others? The thought felt like bile stuck in his throat. No one deserved that treatment, except perhaps the most vile of Sheikah. And this Zora child had no sin to her name except being spoiled.
And what if the spell went wrong? If the girl perished in the attempt? He'd attacked villages before. Children perished in war, it was inevitable. He avoided it when he could, and never soiled his blade with the blood of innocents. But it would be nothing but hypocrisy to think his hands clean because he had not stabbed them himself.
What is one child when compared to a kingdom?
He climbed over the rough mountainside in silence. Weighing the deaths, he had caused against the lives he hoped to save as he returned to his hidden camp. Storm lay on the ground, his legs tucked beneath him. He opened his eyes as Ganondorf approached, the great destrier shook his mane and stood up. As ready to be gone from the Zora's Domain as he.
Ganondorf reached the horse and pet his neck. "Almost, Storm. We're almost done." From his pack he pulled out a mask, shaped from the horned skull of a long dead demon.
After all, what was one more vow broken, one more line crossed, one more death on his hands? He put the mask over his face and sent his mind to the Crystal City and the palace that lay in its center.